The Olympics have almost arrived, and as is the case every two years people are anxiously awaiting Friday’s Opening Ceremony. English film director Danny Boyle is in charge of the ceremony, and he has been adamant about keeping the production a secret from all outsiders — including the media. Any performers or other people working on the event have signed contracts legally forbidding them to discuss their role with anyone. However, The Sunday Telegraph has gathered enough information to feel as though they have a good grasp of what Friday will bring.
The Opening Ceremony is expected to be watched by roughly 4 billion people and Boyle has gone on record as saying it will “make a few jaws drop.” At the Beijing Olympics in 2008, the Opening Ceremony included a breathtaking scene of 2,008 drummers playing in unison. The Telegraph anticipates that the 2012 Opening Ceremony will be divided into three acts that tell the story of Great Britain as a nation from its beginning.
Act one is entitled “Green and Pleasant,” they say, and will begin with “James Bond” star Daniel Craig (or a stunt double) flying into the stadium in a helicopter and ringing a bell to signal the start of the ceremony. The stage will be set up in a way that showcases Britain’s rural past, with live animals and villages that include milkmaids, families who are picnicking and others dancing. Artificial rain clouds may also somehow be incorporated.
Act two, or “Dark Satanic Mills,” will feature a scene from the industrial revolution with performers dressed as mill workers, miners, steel workers and engineers. This act will signify a time in which Great Britain led the world in the Industrial Revolution and is expected to feature music from the Rolling Stones and the Sex Pistols.
Act three, “Toward the Future,” will represent more recent history as well as the present day. It will include a tribute to The Beatles as well as references to political events such as anti-bomb marches and some of Britain’s most notorious landmarks like the Big Ben clock. None other than Sir Paul McCartney is expected to end the Opening Ceremony, with standard events such as the marching of the athletes, speeches and lighting of the cauldron to follow. Some of the world’s most well-known celebrities, including Michelle Obama and her daughters, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and David Beckham, are expected to be a part of the Opening Ceremony guest list.
As you can see, Boyle has extremely big plans for Friday evening. At this point all we can do is hope the reaction to his production is more postitive than the one Great Britain gave when their athletes’ uniforms were unveiled and that there are no malfunctions with the torch.
